Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is angry at the state of the pitch at the Khimki Arena [GETTY]

Boss Manuel Pellegrini believes that the match at the Khimki Arena won't go ahead if there is any rain before kick-off.

Starsport revealed yesterday that City were involved in a war of words with CSKA after being told they were not allowed to train on the pitch.

But after strong appeals to UEFA, the Moscow club were forced to relent and Pellegrini's side were given a close-up view of the poor quality playing surface.

CSKA switched their last home Champions League game to St Petersburg and repairs at the Khimki have been made in the last couple of weeks, but Pellegrini remains angry at the state of the turf.

“I just saw the pitch and I think it’s unbelievable that the most important cup competition in the world is allowed to be played on this pitch,” he said.

“We must pray on Wednesday that it’s not raining. If it’s raining, it will be impossible to play on this pitch.

“It could be called off. I didn’t believe it when I saw the pitch, both for the two teams and also for the people who will watch the game.

“This is the most important competition in the world, and it deserves a better pitch.

“I think if it’s not raining there will be no risk for an injury but it’s not a grass pitch.”

A CSKA spokesman last night confirmed Starsport’s exclusive story that Moscow tried to ban City from training in the stadium.

Manchester City players train on the pitch at the Khimki Arena after appealing to UEFA [GETTY]

“I just saw the pitch and I think it’s unbelievable that the most important cup competition in the world is allowed to be played on this pitch,”

Manuel Pellegrini

He said: “We asked City not to train on the pitch. I think it was not just us but the UEFA guys.

“We thought it might deteriorate if they trained on it, but we are lucky it has not rained and no rain is forecasted.' Even so Pellegrini is amazed UEFA have given this game the goahead at the Khimki Arena.

“I’m surprised because they were not allowed to play the first home game here against Plzen,” he added.

“I think the people from UEFA who reviewed the pitch, they should have said it cannot be played here.”

The pitch at the Khimki Arena was so bad that CSKA Moscow had to play their last Champions League game to St Petersburg [GETTY]

City are worried the imperfect pitch will hinder their chances of bouncing back from a 3-1 drubbing against Bayern Munich in their previous Champions League match.

Pellegrini’s side will face an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stages if they lose again here in Moscow.

Midfielder Yaya Toure is determined that the squad show their true quality.

“You can have a bad, bad day sometimes and the game against Bayern was a day like that,” said the Ivory Coast international.

“In football, you have to learn from your defeats. If your opponent is better, you have to accept that.

“For us the most important thing is to focus on this game. It’s going to be very important and I hope we win it.

"We are learning well in Europe and I hope this year is going to be much better than last year and we can go as far as possible.”